Development
Dynamics
Disorders
Data Science
4D
4D Group Members
I want to understand how and why the developing brain is so diverse, and how this diversity is linked to different cognitive, learning and mental health outcomes.
Prof Duncan Astle
Group Leader
Dr Gabriela Epihova
Research Fellow
I am interested in the link between functional and structural brain organisation and plasticity with cognitive abilities.
I am investigating the co-development of structural and functional brain networks across development, and how their interaction contributes to the diversity of behaviors observed in children.
Francesco Poli
Research Fellow
Dr Alex Dunn
Research Fellow
I am investigating the development of neuronal networks as well as the effect of mutations to the MECP2 gene and the role of a specific subclass of inhibitory interneurons thought to regulate network activity.
Georgie Willsher
Research Coordinator
I manage the administrative elements of the group, including managing our web presence, promoting our Belonging In Schools inclusion resource, and all general research administration.
I am interested in applying computational models to explore the development of diverse neural networks. I hope to better understand how diversity in brain networks relates to different cognitive and behavioural outcomes across the lifespan.
Alexa Mousley
PhD student
I am interested in causal mechanisms relating genes and brain structure/function with cognition, and how these trajectories change over time, using large open-access neuroimaging datasets with children and adolescents.
Alicja Monaghan
PhD student
Maroš Rovný
PhD student
My goal is to understand how different neurodevelopmental trajectories influence the organizational and functional properties of biological and, by extension, artificial neural networks.
Edward Young
Research Fellow
I am working on understanding the interplay between structure and function in biological and artificial neural networks. My current focus is on developing frameworks for modelling cognition in networks which display connectivity structures similar to those found in the brain
Maria Jelen
PhD student
I'm interested in how functional neural networks develop over time in childhood and adolescence. By using large, longitudinal neuroimaging datasets, I hope to better understand what atypical network development can tell us about the risk for psychopathology.
William Mills
PhD student
Kayson Fakhar
Research Fellow
I draw inspiration from the interplay between the brain’s network structure, dynamics, and function to create efficient artificial neural networks. In turn, I use these networks as computational tools to explore and address neuroscientific questions.
My role is to support the cohorts at the MRC CBU, in particular I work on the CamCAN and CALM to make sure we maximise access to the data.
Tina Emery
Research Associate
I am passionate about exploring the link between prosocial behaviour and cognitive development, as well as its impact on physical and mental health. My research will also focus on neural mechanisms underlying these connections.
Estherina Trachtenberg
Research Fellow
My work investigates how the properties of neural networks evolve throughout development, using data from brain organoids.
Ella Richardson
MPhil Student
Lab Alumni
We are incredibly proud of our past lab members!
Dr Roma Siugzdaite
After completing a post-doc, Roma went back to Ghent University to work on numerical cognition and working memory in children and adults. Mainly focusing on serial order representation in the brain
After completing a postdoc in the lab, Joff joined AstraZeneca as a Senior Statistician in the Data Science team.
Dr Jonathan Jones
Dr Giacomo Bignardi
After completing a PhD and postdoc in the lab, Giacomo secured another postdoc position in the Department of Psychology (Cambridge).
Dr Edwin Dalmaijer
After a postdoc in the lab, Edwin went on to start his lab as PI, at the University of Bristol
Dr Jessica Barnes
Jess completed a postdoc in the lab, before going on to work within the Behavioural Insights team within Government
Dr Erin Hawkins
Erin completed a postdoc in the lab before going on to work in Government, within the Department for Education
Dr Andria Shimi
After a postdoc in the lab, Andria went on start her own lab as PI, at the University of Cyprus
Dr Joe Bathelt
After completing a postdoc in the lab, Joe went on to run his own group as PI at Royal Holloway, University of London
Dr Mengya Zhang
After completing a PhD in the lab, Mengya went on to a postdoctoral fellowship in Shanghai
Dr Alex Anwyl-Irvine
After completing his PhD Alex went on to an exciting career in industry, working for Cambridge Cognition
Dr Joe Rennie
After completing his PhD, Rennie secured a postdoctoral researcher role at the University of Exeter
Sophie Gibbons
Sophie worked in the 4D Lab as a research assistant, as part of the RED project. After she finished, she secured a permanent research role for a company in Oxford
After completing a PhD in the lab, Stephenni completed a fellowship with the first neuroethics think tank, Institute of Neuroethics (IoNx), before starting a job with a global health innovation company specialising in science communications and medical affairs.
Dr Stepheni Uh
Dr Elia Benhamou
Elia is now working in a tech company building digital solutions for the NHS.
Grace Frankel
Dr Tess Smith
After completing a PhD in the lab, Tess now works as a postdoctoral research fellow at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit
My research involves looking at whether socio-economic status (SES) and polygenic scores (PGS) relate to educational attainment and whether such relationships are mediated by cognitive ability.
Christian Iordanov
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Dr Sofia Carozza
After completing a PhD in the 4D Lab, Sofia now works as a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University
Dr Silvana Mareva
Research Fellow
Kayton Rotenberg
MPhil student
I am interested in using computational methods to model simple rules governing brain network development. I hope to apply a weighted generative network model to data at the cellular and neuroanatomical levels across different subjects and conditions to learn how environmental and genetic factors influence changes in connectivity.
After completing a PhD in the lab, Natalia moved on to a role in Industry.
Natalia Zdorovtsova
PhD student
I work on bridging computational neuroscience and AI with connectomics, development and understanding organisational principles of neural systems.
Dr Danyal Akarca
Research Fellow
I am interested in understanding how growing up in an adverse environment — such as chronic poverty or an abusive household — affects children’s brains, behaviour, and mental health. The aim of my research is to identify early markers of risk and resilience and possible targets for mental health interventions.